In preparation for our winter trip I re read my shorthand notes of where we stayed last year.
On reading it I thought it may be of use to others if they can understand my shorthand.
I should say last year we went away in November and came back at the end of February. We did 10,000 KM. we went from Ireland to Liverpool, to Cheltenham, Cornwall, Portsmouth to France and then from France to Rosslare.
This year we intend to go direct to Cherbourg from Ireland in early Nov and take about 3/4 months off.
Last year we spent nearly 30 days going down through France to Spain and back up from Spain to France again. This was a mistake, France is cold at this time of year, most of it is closed at least where we went and to be honest we preferred Spain and Portugal. That said if we were travelling in warmer months we would have enjoyed France much more.
Last year did most of out planning based on a 2012/13 camperstop guide, hence in some of the details below we arrived and did not find what we expected. This time we are taking the latest version.
Note last year we did not have solar, we only had 1 toilet cassette. We have got refillable LPG gas bottles and the various nozzles needed for France, Spain and Portugal.
We needed to find electric and Services every 2/3 days. For our next trip we will not be a constrained.
Arrive at Le Havre.
Aire at Le Mans free, toilet overflowing, site on the river, good location for nightlife.
Amboise next to campsite on river €12
Moulismes big site next to lake free. Noisy main road and church bells.
Meuzac roadside at a lake free.
Montignac riverside free includes water toilet etc in town ctr nice site.
Castelsarrasin purpose built on town outskirts €5.50 X 2 nights including electric. Church bells no nice view. Laundry done today 2 loads + drying €17 euros.
Mazamet car park city centre free. Would not recommend as there was damage to private cars in the car park and broken glass.
Balaruc les bains aire v noisy and charged €7 even though not advertised. There was a marked MH aire advertising the cost, we went to another carpark which did not advertise any fees and were woken early by a council official with his ticket machine.
Gruissan very large aire next to yacht club windy and free X 2
Le boulou opposite a cemetery above a nice river free site not sure if services were working.
L'Estartit campsite gave us a discount = €40 for two nights plus €22 spent laundry. Plus swimming hats €6 compulsory if you wanted to use their pool. Nice campsite and location.
San Feliu de Guixols 3 nights free, big dog barked a lot, nice coastal village great walking and cycling. 6 beers and potatos bravas €4.50! Had free services would stay again, use top car park.
San Raphael del rio restaurant car park free with a meal electric €4 rev pol, to use all services extra €4. On noisy road campers arrive late and leave early. This was a favourite of the germans making their 3 day trip from Germany to the bottom of Spain. They arrive late and are waiting for the gates to open first thing so they can set off again. Met semi resident Thelma and Alan in their American RV originally from Ireland but now tour a lot. The food and Bar was good with free wifi. I think it was about €10 if you stayed without eating.
Malvarrosa Corinto nr Sagunto, campsite on the beach tired facilities but nice location 3 nights with electric €48.90 plus €12 laundry. This campsite had lots of regulars who came for long periods over the winter. Open air toilets and showers, well not quite but large high openings in the shower block walls.
To date €22 in LPG used.
Denia Los llanos campsite €12 per night inc electric lots of seasonal pitches. 3 nights = €36 plus €3.80 wifi, not busy not great.
La marina beach side Carpark. This place had lots of long staying MH users. Generators etc. Camping not allowed, standing is okay. So you can park but don't get out the BBQ, table and chairs etc. 4 nights free, top up water and toilet near by campsite €4 laundry 2 loads €15. LPG €3. Great beach nice bar. Total €166.90. Note only stayed so long because we were waiting on something to be delivered to a relative who had a house nearby.
Campsite at Aguilas 5 nights €99.50 very noisy with barking dogs lots of Brits only stayed so long because it was Xmas. Really good wild camping on the beach just south of the campsite.
Agua amarga 2 nights on a beach free. Nice and Nice bars around.
Almeria roquetas campsite near beach good cycling €21.66 one night.
Almerimar camper stop at a pub water and toilet emptying available on beach very good, busy free.
Torrox next to light house on beach free. Very good location do 2 nights next year. Good restaurants and Bars. Note Torrox has 3 different areas and access can be difficult, stay out of the town head to the beach.
Los jarales campsite near fuengirola not great 20 euros per night, 2 nights difficult access. Not have now noticed that toilet seats do not exist on many campsites.
Tarifa beach side parking access road very bumpy very windy, loose cows with bells site looked a bit like a hippy commune 1 night free.
Zahara de Los Atunes beach side Carpark stayed 1 night would stay longer.
Pinar San hose nice campsite decent pitch sizes €20.50 includes electric and wifi. Laundry €5.
Went to Chipiona didn't stay no other campers and a bit isolated. V nice beach there.
Huelva Carpark near Columbus monument free.
€348.56 on campsite fees to date.
Castro Marim good but noisy, services grey and black included, water 2€.
7 January spent €7 on LPG
Olhao camper stop on a dock could have stayed but didn't. Should stay if more time.
Albufeira found a car park San rafhael over looking nice beach. Free. Isolated but I felt safe
Albufeira Marina road side parking free.
Camper stop Albufeira Parque da gale €6.50 included electric and wifi full. Noisy and a bit cramped.€3 to service only.
Albufeira Beach side parking at playa grande. Nude men in dunes. In the middle of winter. Looked as if it could be a dodgy area.
Albufeira Marina again, cul de sac road side free.
Alvor near Portimou not in books, excellent free beach side site with bar/restaurant 2 nights. near a camper stop near football pitch. Charges would be €4.50 to park €7 with electric. Good walking and cycling.
€357.06 fees to date.
Campsite at Lagos €14 for the night but this was too much considering the state of the site. No hot water, no toilet seats. €16 on washing dryers that did not dry. Rubbish!
Sagres did not stay but could have at two locations.
Carrapateira beach parking looked nice did not stay.
Aljezur in town next to stream/river free. Okay but not great. 1 night.
Then past a few in book and stated at Porto covo. Parked above the beach and used their free service point in another stop in the village would recommend and stay longer next time.
Another 7 litres of LPG at €5 plus refil of diesel €35 euros for 190 miles diesel at €1.10 a ltr.
I night at alcacer do sal river side Carpark free but noisy.
Orbitar campsite at costa da caparica €16.20 inc elec and wifi. San FACS not good, laundry expensive and not good.
Peniche beach side Carpark free not bad. Past obidos walled town would worth a visit.
Praia de quiaos beach side Carpark again free.
Vagos camperstop 1 night beach side we paid €7.50 for everything including electric service point only €2.50.
Estareeja council camperstop €2 including electric would be able use as a service point free. 1 night Carpark camping in the town ctr.
Viana do castelo port beach Carpark noisy disco free.
Arcade lake side very near kids playground services not well thought out.
Boiro camperstop €3 pay local police beach side Carpark.
Mondonedo Carpark town ctr free. Nice inland village good pubs services ok.
Campsite Gijon right next to the sea very nice . €18.50 per night inc electric and wifi 2 nights. Found caravan store not far away bought bike arm water filler lid. Had loads of spares. Then carrefour stocked up on alcohol.
Long drive to cabarceno camperstop next lake only one water tap for Wc and drinking water. Free, very windy and wet. Would be nice in better weather then on A8 towards Bilbao found a service point for MHs free.
Lekeitio camper stop in Carpark edge of the village near river and sea. Generous bays, services good, water extra charge token from tourist office nice drive from last stop through the mountains. Would be nice in good weather.
Anglet camperstop beach side loads of bays advertised as with electric not correct, other services available free. Again would nice if weather was. Went via sare camperstop in the mountains which advertised as having electric for €6 per day no electric could service for free though.
Vieux boucau les bains. 1 of 2 camper stops €7 off season €12 in season nice holiday town and real electric. Payment via card.
Contis plage camper stop 2 nights nice cycling, walking and beach, village shops pubs etc closed. Free to stay in dec, jan and feb, electric included but ltd to 90 minutes max plug in this was ignored by all who stayed. 12 ltr of LPG today. Fill up diesel €52.75 at €1.10 per ltr 290 miles.
St Savin region lake side just off the road camper stop free 1 night ok but only for a night halt.
St jean d angely camperstop on lake near village free all services working nice location. 1 night.
La tranche sur mer 1 night Carpark camperstop. Free ok services not working. Other stops in the area village closed. On route checked chaille les marais would not recommend.
St jean de monts payable camperstop €8.50 1 night included electric and wifi but code needed for wifi had to call owner, also advertised with laundry but no laundry used intermarche 1 mile away.
Prefailles camperstop no services car park access to beach. Nice location.
Arzon payable camperstop 2 nights at €7.40 per night electric and wifi inc nice location.
Guidel plage camperstop book wrong no Servs and only 7 spaces next to playground with skate park could have been noisy but was ok. Only 1 night. Went via lar more plage twn ctr CP free services and nice views on 50metres away bays not big and only 4, did not stay.
Now at cleden-cap-sizun Carpark outside of town on cliffs no services but with toilets, free. Went via quimperle free services should have stayed nice river.
Landerneau town ctr camperstop €6 with electric, water would have been €2.50 more. Checked several in area but as they were beach side and weather was poor did not stop, 1 night.
1 night st thegonnec aire in town ctr opposite toilets which seemed to be doubling as youth club. Services free with a token obtained from local shops. Camper parked at services and plugged in duration of our stay. Serviced free at st servais inc electric. Checked morlaix super market Carpark free services not electric nice town.
1 night treguier camperstop free over looking river nice town only chem and grey services.
Plerin camperstop on the beach estuary nice location and had free services need to be careful sat Nav takes you to low bridge 1 night
Beauvoir camperstop near le mint Saint Michael €12.50 includes all services and wifi, wifi very very slow.
Brehal not a camperstop beach side car park nice views.
campsite fees to date €396.76
I have not done the maths and I missed they last few nights in France before we set off home but I reckon we probably spent as much on Laundry as we did on campsite fees.
More of the same coming up I hope.
On reading it I thought it may be of use to others if they can understand my shorthand.
I should say last year we went away in November and came back at the end of February. We did 10,000 KM. we went from Ireland to Liverpool, to Cheltenham, Cornwall, Portsmouth to France and then from France to Rosslare.
This year we intend to go direct to Cherbourg from Ireland in early Nov and take about 3/4 months off.
Last year we spent nearly 30 days going down through France to Spain and back up from Spain to France again. This was a mistake, France is cold at this time of year, most of it is closed at least where we went and to be honest we preferred Spain and Portugal. That said if we were travelling in warmer months we would have enjoyed France much more.
Last year did most of out planning based on a 2012/13 camperstop guide, hence in some of the details below we arrived and did not find what we expected. This time we are taking the latest version.
Note last year we did not have solar, we only had 1 toilet cassette. We have got refillable LPG gas bottles and the various nozzles needed for France, Spain and Portugal.
We needed to find electric and Services every 2/3 days. For our next trip we will not be a constrained.
Arrive at Le Havre.
Aire at Le Mans free, toilet overflowing, site on the river, good location for nightlife.
Amboise next to campsite on river €12
Moulismes big site next to lake free. Noisy main road and church bells.
Meuzac roadside at a lake free.
Montignac riverside free includes water toilet etc in town ctr nice site.
Castelsarrasin purpose built on town outskirts €5.50 X 2 nights including electric. Church bells no nice view. Laundry done today 2 loads + drying €17 euros.
Mazamet car park city centre free. Would not recommend as there was damage to private cars in the car park and broken glass.
Balaruc les bains aire v noisy and charged €7 even though not advertised. There was a marked MH aire advertising the cost, we went to another carpark which did not advertise any fees and were woken early by a council official with his ticket machine.
Gruissan very large aire next to yacht club windy and free X 2
Le boulou opposite a cemetery above a nice river free site not sure if services were working.
L'Estartit campsite gave us a discount = €40 for two nights plus €22 spent laundry. Plus swimming hats €6 compulsory if you wanted to use their pool. Nice campsite and location.
San Feliu de Guixols 3 nights free, big dog barked a lot, nice coastal village great walking and cycling. 6 beers and potatos bravas €4.50! Had free services would stay again, use top car park.
San Raphael del rio restaurant car park free with a meal electric €4 rev pol, to use all services extra €4. On noisy road campers arrive late and leave early. This was a favourite of the germans making their 3 day trip from Germany to the bottom of Spain. They arrive late and are waiting for the gates to open first thing so they can set off again. Met semi resident Thelma and Alan in their American RV originally from Ireland but now tour a lot. The food and Bar was good with free wifi. I think it was about €10 if you stayed without eating.
Malvarrosa Corinto nr Sagunto, campsite on the beach tired facilities but nice location 3 nights with electric €48.90 plus €12 laundry. This campsite had lots of regulars who came for long periods over the winter. Open air toilets and showers, well not quite but large high openings in the shower block walls.
To date €22 in LPG used.
Denia Los llanos campsite €12 per night inc electric lots of seasonal pitches. 3 nights = €36 plus €3.80 wifi, not busy not great.
La marina beach side Carpark. This place had lots of long staying MH users. Generators etc. Camping not allowed, standing is okay. So you can park but don't get out the BBQ, table and chairs etc. 4 nights free, top up water and toilet near by campsite €4 laundry 2 loads €15. LPG €3. Great beach nice bar. Total €166.90. Note only stayed so long because we were waiting on something to be delivered to a relative who had a house nearby.
Campsite at Aguilas 5 nights €99.50 very noisy with barking dogs lots of Brits only stayed so long because it was Xmas. Really good wild camping on the beach just south of the campsite.
Agua amarga 2 nights on a beach free. Nice and Nice bars around.
Almeria roquetas campsite near beach good cycling €21.66 one night.
Almerimar camper stop at a pub water and toilet emptying available on beach very good, busy free.
Torrox next to light house on beach free. Very good location do 2 nights next year. Good restaurants and Bars. Note Torrox has 3 different areas and access can be difficult, stay out of the town head to the beach.
Los jarales campsite near fuengirola not great 20 euros per night, 2 nights difficult access. Not have now noticed that toilet seats do not exist on many campsites.
Tarifa beach side parking access road very bumpy very windy, loose cows with bells site looked a bit like a hippy commune 1 night free.
Zahara de Los Atunes beach side Carpark stayed 1 night would stay longer.
Pinar San hose nice campsite decent pitch sizes €20.50 includes electric and wifi. Laundry €5.
Went to Chipiona didn't stay no other campers and a bit isolated. V nice beach there.
Huelva Carpark near Columbus monument free.
€348.56 on campsite fees to date.
Castro Marim good but noisy, services grey and black included, water 2€.
7 January spent €7 on LPG
Olhao camper stop on a dock could have stayed but didn't. Should stay if more time.
Albufeira found a car park San rafhael over looking nice beach. Free. Isolated but I felt safe
Albufeira Marina road side parking free.
Camper stop Albufeira Parque da gale €6.50 included electric and wifi full. Noisy and a bit cramped.€3 to service only.
Albufeira Beach side parking at playa grande. Nude men in dunes. In the middle of winter. Looked as if it could be a dodgy area.
Albufeira Marina again, cul de sac road side free.
Alvor near Portimou not in books, excellent free beach side site with bar/restaurant 2 nights. near a camper stop near football pitch. Charges would be €4.50 to park €7 with electric. Good walking and cycling.
€357.06 fees to date.
Campsite at Lagos €14 for the night but this was too much considering the state of the site. No hot water, no toilet seats. €16 on washing dryers that did not dry. Rubbish!
Sagres did not stay but could have at two locations.
Carrapateira beach parking looked nice did not stay.
Aljezur in town next to stream/river free. Okay but not great. 1 night.
Then past a few in book and stated at Porto covo. Parked above the beach and used their free service point in another stop in the village would recommend and stay longer next time.
Another 7 litres of LPG at €5 plus refil of diesel €35 euros for 190 miles diesel at €1.10 a ltr.
I night at alcacer do sal river side Carpark free but noisy.
Orbitar campsite at costa da caparica €16.20 inc elec and wifi. San FACS not good, laundry expensive and not good.
Peniche beach side Carpark free not bad. Past obidos walled town would worth a visit.
Praia de quiaos beach side Carpark again free.
Vagos camperstop 1 night beach side we paid €7.50 for everything including electric service point only €2.50.
Estareeja council camperstop €2 including electric would be able use as a service point free. 1 night Carpark camping in the town ctr.
Viana do castelo port beach Carpark noisy disco free.
Arcade lake side very near kids playground services not well thought out.
Boiro camperstop €3 pay local police beach side Carpark.
Mondonedo Carpark town ctr free. Nice inland village good pubs services ok.
Campsite Gijon right next to the sea very nice . €18.50 per night inc electric and wifi 2 nights. Found caravan store not far away bought bike arm water filler lid. Had loads of spares. Then carrefour stocked up on alcohol.
Long drive to cabarceno camperstop next lake only one water tap for Wc and drinking water. Free, very windy and wet. Would be nice in better weather then on A8 towards Bilbao found a service point for MHs free.
Lekeitio camper stop in Carpark edge of the village near river and sea. Generous bays, services good, water extra charge token from tourist office nice drive from last stop through the mountains. Would be nice in good weather.
Anglet camperstop beach side loads of bays advertised as with electric not correct, other services available free. Again would nice if weather was. Went via sare camperstop in the mountains which advertised as having electric for €6 per day no electric could service for free though.
Vieux boucau les bains. 1 of 2 camper stops €7 off season €12 in season nice holiday town and real electric. Payment via card.
Contis plage camper stop 2 nights nice cycling, walking and beach, village shops pubs etc closed. Free to stay in dec, jan and feb, electric included but ltd to 90 minutes max plug in this was ignored by all who stayed. 12 ltr of LPG today. Fill up diesel €52.75 at €1.10 per ltr 290 miles.
St Savin region lake side just off the road camper stop free 1 night ok but only for a night halt.
St jean d angely camperstop on lake near village free all services working nice location. 1 night.
La tranche sur mer 1 night Carpark camperstop. Free ok services not working. Other stops in the area village closed. On route checked chaille les marais would not recommend.
St jean de monts payable camperstop €8.50 1 night included electric and wifi but code needed for wifi had to call owner, also advertised with laundry but no laundry used intermarche 1 mile away.
Prefailles camperstop no services car park access to beach. Nice location.
Arzon payable camperstop 2 nights at €7.40 per night electric and wifi inc nice location.
Guidel plage camperstop book wrong no Servs and only 7 spaces next to playground with skate park could have been noisy but was ok. Only 1 night. Went via lar more plage twn ctr CP free services and nice views on 50metres away bays not big and only 4, did not stay.
Now at cleden-cap-sizun Carpark outside of town on cliffs no services but with toilets, free. Went via quimperle free services should have stayed nice river.
Landerneau town ctr camperstop €6 with electric, water would have been €2.50 more. Checked several in area but as they were beach side and weather was poor did not stop, 1 night.
1 night st thegonnec aire in town ctr opposite toilets which seemed to be doubling as youth club. Services free with a token obtained from local shops. Camper parked at services and plugged in duration of our stay. Serviced free at st servais inc electric. Checked morlaix super market Carpark free services not electric nice town.
1 night treguier camperstop free over looking river nice town only chem and grey services.
Plerin camperstop on the beach estuary nice location and had free services need to be careful sat Nav takes you to low bridge 1 night
Beauvoir camperstop near le mint Saint Michael €12.50 includes all services and wifi, wifi very very slow.
Brehal not a camperstop beach side car park nice views.
campsite fees to date €396.76
I have not done the maths and I missed they last few nights in France before we set off home but I reckon we probably spent as much on Laundry as we did on campsite fees.
More of the same coming up I hope.
